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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Small Miracles

Some of you who live in the Pittsburgh area may have heard about this story already. I first became aware of Kelly Frey when I read this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on August 26th. I'd seen her before on TV--she's a reporter for local station WTAE, but never paid all that much attention. She was just another on-air personality. Pretty. Did an adequate job. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Boy, was I wrong.

Kelly Frey and her husband, Jason have to be two of the most remarkable people I've read about lately. Earlier this week, their first child, Bennett was born. While this is an ordinary occurrence for many people, for Kelly and Jason it was much more. Before he was born, they knew there was a good chance that Bennett would never take a breath, let alone cry.

During a routine ultrasound at 12 weeks, Kelly and Jason found out that Bennett had holoprosencephaly, a severe defect where spinal fluid takes the place of some brain tissue. Some babies with the defect lack enough brain tissue to even take a breath.

Bennett was born this week. And he was able to breathe on his own. He cried. He yawned.

As I write this, there hasn't been any more information released on Bennett's current condition. I'm praying for a miracle. And so are many, many others.

An organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep has documented Kelly and Jason's story in photographs. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation provides beautiful photos at no cost to parents who are facing the death of their child. They feel that the service not only gives grief-stricken parents concrete memories of their child, but helps with the healing process.

3 comments:

I learned about Kelly and Jason's harrowing ordeal at the same time you did, Joyce, and it broke my heart. In the weeks that have followed, I've marvelled at Kelly's upbeat attitude and the sparkle she maintained on air.

Those portraits are stunning. Little Bennett is a true blessing, regardless of how much time he spends on this earth.